Socceroos great Robbie Slater has defended the Australian national team and coach Graham Arnold after a 4-0 win over Indonesia in the Round of 16 at the 2023 Asian Cup.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, the performance left plenty to be desired with the Socceroos attack firing blanks in front of goals, managing just seven shots and four on target throughout the game.
Going against a side ranked 146th out of 210 nations, the performance was well below par and something that caught many fans by surprise considering the extraordinary run 12 months ago at the 2022 World Cup.
With the Socceroos still undefeated and only conceding one goal, Slater revealed his frustration with the criticism directed at the national team for their recent performances.
“I spoke to Arnie about it, and he doesn’t like to get too much into it but I can tell his disappointed… I think (the criticism) is unfair,” Slater told SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“We’re in a tournament (where) we’ve conceded one goal, we’ve scored eight. Have we played like Brazil at their best? No, but it’s a tournament and you build.
“The next one is going a tough one, there’s no doubt about that, South Korea with Son Heung-min (or) against a Saudi Arabia team that’s always difficult to beat.
“But we’ve been ok for the moment, we haven’t been at our best but maybe you shouldn’t be at your best at this point.”
Slater compared the current situation with that of the Maltidas and claimed football fans have a different perspective when it comes to poor performances that still get results.
“This is not a criticism this is just where the two teams are situated in the sporting psyche,” Slater added.
“(The general public) are all quite happy but it’s the football people that seem to be not happy.
“If this was the Maltidas who just won four nil and going into a quarter-final, everyone would be celebrating.”
Australia will await the winner of South Korea and Saudia Arabia on Tuesday morning to find out their opponent for the quarter finals.
Robbie Slater claims the criticism around the Socceroos' Asian Cup campaign is unfair#Socceroos | #AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/pSzRWOFdao
— The Run Home with Joel & Fletch (@JoelFletchSEN) January 29, 2024